Post for wire fences



Oct. 31, 1967 A. B. CODA 3,350,067

POST FOR WIRE FENCES Filed Oct. 23, 1965 "i "I/lW/I/IA I NVENTOR.

fl/berf B. Coda Young f 7/) 0/29 0500 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,350,067 POST FOR WIRE FENCES Albert B. Coda, Rte. 3, Independence, Kans. 67301 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,839 1 Claim. (Cl. 256-48) The present invention relates to a post for wire fences, more particularly of the steel post type in which the post is comprised by an elongated upright angle iron.

Fencing wire is ordinarily held to the fence posts by the use of staples. In the case of wooden fence posts, this staple is simply driven into the post with the tines of the staple straddling the wire.

However, metal fence posts are preferable to wooden fence posts because metal fence posts are less subject to deterioration and do not burn. A problem arises, however, when it is attempted to fasten the wire to a metal fence post. If a staple is used, it is necessary to deform the staple in some way, as the staple cannot be driven into the fence post but can only pass through holes previously formed in the metal fence post.

In the past, when fastening wire to a metal fence post, it has sometimes been the practice to hold a solid object behind the fence post in the path of the tines of the staple, to deform the staple to hold the staple on the post. However, such an operation is diflicult to perform and is time consuming.

It has also been proposed to provide metal fence posts with openings therethrough and with obstructions adjacent the openings, which will deform the tines of a staple when the tines are driven through the openings. In the past, however, such constructions have been uneconomically expensive to manufacture and have not been actually used.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a post for wire fences which will quickly and easily deform a staple driven through the post, thereby to clinch the staple to the post.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a post for wire fences which will be relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install both as to the post itself and as to the wire supported by the post, and rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become aparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a fence post according to the present invention, with a length of barbwire assembled to it;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fence post only.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, there is shown a fence post at 1 of the rolled steel type. Fence post 1 is in the form of an elongated angle iron having a pair of legs 3 and 5 disposed at right angles to each other. Post 1 is thus V-shaped in cross section; and it is of course understood that post 1 is driven into the ground upright so as to support one or more strands of wire, which may be barbed wire, plain wire, woven wire, etc.

A channel-shaped segment 7 is fixedly secured to post 1 between legs 3 and 5. Segment 7 is V-shaped in cross section and has uniform cross-sectional configuration ice throughout its length, characterized by a pair of legs 9 and 11 which meet at an apex 13. Apex 13 is straight and extends in a line perpendicular to the plane of leg 5 and perpendicular to the length of post 1. Apex 13 is secured along its length to the inner surface of leg 3, as by welding at 15. The length of segment 7 parallel to apex 13 is no greater than, and preferably less than, the width of leg 3 of post 1, but is preferably more than half that width.

Segment 7 is also welded to leg 5 at 17, along the V- shaped end of segment 7. In this welded position, segment 7 is very firmly held to and braced by the legs 3 and 5 of post 1. Legs 9 and 11 of segment 7 are disposed at equal but opposite acute angles to leg 3 of post 1.

Leg 3 of post 1 has a pair of vertically spaced openings 19 therethrough, disposed one on either side of and closely adjacent apex 13. Each opening 19 thus overlies the inclined surface of a leg 9 or 11.

A length of wire 21 is secured to post 1 on the outer side of leg 3 by means of a staple 23 having tines 25 and 27. Tine 25 extends throughthe upper opening 19 and contacts the upper and outer surface of leg 9 of segment 7. Tine 27 extends through the lower opening 19 and contacts the lower or outer surface of leg 11 of segment 7. Tines 25 and 27 straddle wire 21.

The outer surfaces of legs 9 and 11 of segment 7 deflect tines 25 and 27 in opposite directions when staple 23 is driven through opening 19. It is thus necessary only to position a strand of wire 21 between the openings 19, insert the staple 23 with the tines 25 and 27 passing through the openings 19, and strike the arcuate end of the staple with a hammer. The tines 25 and 27 pass down the inclined planes provided by the oppositely disposed outer surfaces of legs 9 and 11 of segment 7. In doing so, the tines 25 and 27 are thrust beyond the elastic limit of the metal of the staple, so that the staple becomes permanently defiormed in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, thereby firmly clipping wire 21 to the post.

A post according to the present invention is very easy to construct. It is necessary only to pierce the openings 19, cut off an appropriate length of segment 7 from a standard channel bar, and form the welds 15 and 17, as by spot welding or the like.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will be evident that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A post for a wire fence, comprising a length of angle iron having a pair of legs, and an angle iron segment having its apex welded to one of said legs along a line of weld that is perpendicular to the other of said legs, said segment having one end welded to said other leg along lines of weld disposed substantially perpendicular to each other and to said first-mentioned line of weld, said one leg having an opening therethrough on each side of and closely adjacent said apex, said segment being of uniform cross section in a direction perpendicular to said other leg and of a length no greater than the width of said one leg, said angles to said'one leg.

3 4 segment having a pair of legs disposed at equal acute 1,525,822 2/1925 Nalle 25647 1,593,099 7/1926 Plants 256-54 1,662,753 3/ 1928 McDonaugh 25654 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 1912 Huber 25 4 18,732 8/1903 Great Britain. 9/ 1912 Hartley 25654 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. 12/1915 Kimble.

Freeze R. Exammer. 8/1924 Parsons 25648 10 D. I. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

